Updated on March 6, 2024
Salad is a dish that has been enjoyed by people all over the world for centuries. Its significance goes beyond just being a healthy food option, as it often represents a cultural expression of tradition, lifestyle, and values. From the fresh and light insalata of Italy, to the hearty and savory Ensalada of Spain, the word 'salad' carries with it a variety of meanings and connotations that are deeply rooted in the languages and cultures from which they come.
In addition to its cultural importance, knowing the translation of the word 'salad' in different languages can be incredibly useful for travelers, foodies, and language enthusiasts alike. Imagine being able to order a delicious Ensalada Rusa in a cozy tapas bar in Madrid, or impressing your Italian friends with your knowledge of the many different types of insalate. Not only will this knowledge enhance your dining experience, but it will also provide you with a deeper appreciation for the rich history and diversity of food and language.
Here are just a few examples of how the word 'salad' translates in some of the most widely spoken languages around the world:
Afrikaans | slaai | ||
In the past, the word "slaai" was also used to refer to meat dishes like sausages or mince | |||
Amharic | ሰላጣ | ||
"ሰላጣ" is derived from the Arabic word "سلطة" and can also refer to a light snack or appetizer. | |||
Hausa | salatin | ||
In Hausa, "salatin" is also used to refer to a specific type of bitter leaf commonly used in soups and stews. | |||
Igbo | salad | ||
The Igbo word for 'salad' also means 'green leaves' or 'vegetables'. | |||
Malagasy | salady | ||
The word "salady" in Malagasy is borrowed from the French word "salade". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | saladi | ||
Nyanja "saladi" can refer to salad leaves in addition to a prepared salad dish, and its root is Arabic, from "salata," meaning "greens," via Swahili. | |||
Shona | saladhi | ||
In the Shona language, "saladhi" can also refer to a traditional relish made from ground peanuts and tomatoes. | |||
Somali | salad | ||
The word "salad" in Somali, "salaad," can also mean prayer, particularly the five daily prayers in Islam. | |||
Sesotho | salate | ||
The word "salate" is an adaptation of the French word "salade" meaning "salad" or "garden herb". | |||
Swahili | saladi | ||
The Swahili word "saladi" can also refer to a type of traditional vegetable stew. | |||
Xhosa | isaladi | ||
In Xhosa, the word 'isaladi' originates from the Nguni term for 'vegetable garden'. | |||
Yoruba | saladi | ||
The Yoruba word "saladi" is also used to refer to a type of vegetable soup or stew. | |||
Zulu | isaladi | ||
Bambara | salati | ||
Ewe | salad, si nye salad | ||
Kinyarwanda | salade | ||
Lingala | salade ya kosala | ||
Luganda | saladi ya saladi | ||
Sepedi | salate ya | ||
Twi (Akan) | salad a wɔde yɛ salad | ||
Arabic | سلطة | ||
The Arabic word "سلطة" ("salad") also means "authority" or "power". | |||
Hebrew | סלט | ||
The word "סלט" has two etymologies, the first of which being from the Persian "سالاد" (salad) | |||
Pashto | سلاد | ||
The word 'سلاد' ('salad') in Pashto comes from the Persian loanword 'سالاد', which in turn originated from the French 'salade'. It can also refer to a type of wild grass or herb. | |||
Arabic | سلطة | ||
The Arabic word "سلطة" ("salad") also means "authority" or "power". |
Albanian | sallatë | ||
In Albanian, "sallatë" comes from the Latin "salata", meaning "salted", indicating its original use as a dish seasoned with salt. | |||
Basque | entsalada | ||
Although it is not clear where the word "entsalada" comes from, some theories say it may come from the Dutch word "sla" or the German word "salat". "Ensalada" can also mean "dressing" in some Basque dialects. | |||
Catalan | amanida | ||
The word "amanida" also means "mix". In fact, "salad" in Catalan is "enciam". | |||
Croatian | salata | ||
The Croatian word "salata" comes from the Italian word "insalata", which means "salted". It was originally a dish of vegetables that were preserved in salt. | |||
Danish | salat | ||
In Danish, "salat" can also refer to a "head of lettuce" or "lettuce leaf". | |||
Dutch | salade | ||
The word "salade" in Dutch can also refer to a type of headgear worn by women in the 16th and 17th centuries. | |||
English | salad | ||
The word salad's etymological root lies in the Latin 'sal', meaning 'salt', as the Romans ate raw greens seasoned with salted vinegar. | |||
French | salade | ||
The word 'salade' is derived from the Latin word 'sal', meaning 'salt', and was originally used to describe a dish of salted vegetables. | |||
Frisian | salade | ||
In Saterland Frisian the term 'soalad' is predominantly used for 'slaw'. | |||
Galician | ensalada | ||
The term "ensalada" can also imply a "fruit salad". | |||
German | salat | ||
In German, "Salat" originally meant "plants with large, edible leaves", while "Salat" in French initially referred to food that was salted. | |||
Icelandic | salat | ||
In Icelandic, the word „salat“ can also refer to a head of lettuce, a bundle of herbs, or a type of cabbage. | |||
Irish | sailéad | ||
The word "sailéad" in Irish is also used to refer to a type of flatbread made from mashed potatoes. | |||
Italian | insalata | ||
The word "insalata" in Italian originates from the Latin "insulsus", meaning "without salt", as salads were traditionally dressed with oil and vinegar instead of salt. | |||
Luxembourgish | zalot | ||
The word 'zalot' is derived from the Old French word 'salade', which referred to a dish made with raw vegetables and herbs. | |||
Maltese | insalata | ||
In Maltese, "insalata" can also refer to a type of traditional pastizzi filled with peas and ricotta. | |||
Norwegian | salat | ||
The word "salat" in Norwegian originally meant "sour vegetables" and only later came to be used for salads. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | salada | ||
The Portuguese word "salada" derives from the Latin "salata", meaning "salted" or "preserved with salt". | |||
Scots Gaelic | salad | ||
In Scots Gaelic, the word 'salad' means 'a bowl', and refers to the vessel in which salad is served. | |||
Spanish | ensalada | ||
Ensalada, in Spanish, can refer to both a mixed dish of fresh vegetables and a fruit salad. | |||
Swedish | sallad | ||
The Swedish word "sallad" comes from the French "salade", which in turn comes from the Italian "salata", meaning "salted". | |||
Welsh | salad | ||
In Welsh slang “salad” is a term used to describe the female anatomy. |
Belarusian | салата | ||
The word | |||
Bosnian | salata | ||
The word "salata" in Bosnian derives from the Ottoman Turkish word "salata", which in turn comes from the Arabic word "salata" meaning "boiled vegetables". | |||
Bulgarian | салата | ||
Bulgarians use "салата" to refer not only to leafy green salads but also tomato and cucumber salads or cabbage salads. | |||
Czech | salát | ||
In Czech, "salát" also refers to "lettuce" or a "vegetable oil and vinegar based marinade." | |||
Estonian | salat | ||
The word "salat" in Estonian can also refer to lettuce, greens, or a type of wild cabbage. | |||
Finnish | salaatti | ||
The Finnish word "salaatti" also means "lettuce" while in Swedish, a "sallad" consists of just lettuce and cucumbers. | |||
Hungarian | saláta | ||
In Hungary, "saláta" can also refer to a type of pickled vegetable. | |||
Latvian | salāti | ||
The word "salāti" in Latvian does not have any alternate meanings or etymological connections to other words. | |||
Lithuanian | salotos | ||
The word "salotos" derives from the Latin "salata" (salted), referring to the traditional Roman practice of salting vegetables to preserve them. | |||
Macedonian | салата | ||
The Macedonian word 'салата' derives from the Turkish word 'salata', which in turn originates from the Italian word 'insalata', meaning 'salted'. In Macedonian, the word can also refer to a 'type of fabric' or a 'type of dish'. | |||
Polish | sałatka | ||
The word "Sałatka" is a diminutive form of the word "Sałata" which means "lettuce". It can also be used to refer to a small mixed green salad. | |||
Romanian | salată | ||
In Romanian, the word "salată" also refers to a cold spread made from vegetables, vinegar, and oil, similar to a Russian vinaigrette. | |||
Russian | салат | ||
"Салат" can also mean a lettuce leaf, as in "салат из листьев салата" | |||
Serbian | салата | ||
In Serbian, "салата" can also refer to a type of traditional Balkan dish consisting of grilled meat served with raw onions. | |||
Slovak | šalát | ||
"Šalát" in Slovak also means "lettuce" and "chard". | |||
Slovenian | solata | ||
The word 'solata' comes from the Italian word 'insalata' and also means lettuce or other leafy vegetables. | |||
Ukrainian | салат | ||
The word "салат" in Ukrainian comes from the Latin word "salatus" meaning "salted" and refers to a dish of greens seasoned with salt, oil, and vinegar. |
Bengali | সালাদ | ||
The word 'সালাদ' (salad) originates from the Latin word 'salata,' meaning 'salted,' referring to the practice of adding salt to greens in ancient Roman cuisine. | |||
Gujarati | કચુંબર | ||
The word "salad" comes from the Latin word "sal" meaning salt, and in Gujarati, "કચુંબર" refers to a salad with a vinegar base. | |||
Hindi | सलाद | ||
The Hindi word 'सलाद' ('salad') originates from the French word 'salade', which in turn comes from the Latin word 'sal', meaning 'salt', as salt was traditionally used to preserve and flavor salads. | |||
Kannada | ಸಲಾಡ್ | ||
The Kannada word "ಸಲಾಡ್" (salad) is a loan word from English that retains its original meaning, but can also refer to a dish similar to a "chat". | |||
Malayalam | സാലഡ് | ||
The word "സാലഡ്" is a loanword from English that specifically refers to a side dish with raw greens. | |||
Marathi | कोशिंबीर | ||
कोशिंबीर is possibly derived from the Hindi word 'koshmalabir' signifying 'flower buds and vegetables' and could also mean 'to assemble', which in this case relates to assembling and mixing vegetable cuts with a dressing. | |||
Nepali | सलाद | ||
The Nepali word 'सलाद' ultimately derives from the Persian 'salad', which meant 'lightly cooked greens'. Now it primarily refers to salad in the modern sense. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਲਾਦ | ||
The Punjabi word "ਸਲਾਦ" also has an alternate meaning beyond its main definition as a dish of vegetables: it can also refer to a "solution". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සලාද | ||
The word "සලාද" is derived from the Portuguese word "salada", meaning "salted". | |||
Tamil | சாலட் | ||
சாலட் can also mean "a mixture of several things together" or a "jumble" in Tamil. | |||
Telugu | సలాడ్ | ||
The word 'salad' comes from the Latin word 'salata', meaning 'salted', as salt was originally a key ingredient in salads. | |||
Urdu | سلاد | ||
The word "سلاد" can also mean "pickle" or "chutney" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 沙拉 | ||
"沙拉"源自法语"salade",意为用蔬菜配制成的冷菜。 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 沙拉 | ||
沙拉也可以读作“shalɑ”而不仅仅是“shàlá”,这通常是用来指从东南亚到台湾南部的一种甜味水果沙拉。 | |||
Japanese | サラダ | ||
The word "サラダ" is derived from the Portuguese word "salada", meaning "salted", and can also refer to a variety of cold dishes in Japanese cuisine. | |||
Korean | 샐러드 | ||
In Korean, "샐러드" can also refer to the Chinese dish "새우젓" (shrimp paste) or the Japanese dish "샐러드" (salad). | |||
Mongolian | салат | ||
The word 'салат' ('salad') in Mongolian also means 'onion greens'. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အသုပ် | ||
အသုပ် primarily means "salad", and is also a slang word for "a group of people who gather regularly to enjoy themselves" |
Indonesian | salad | ||
In Indonesian, “salad” can refer to a cold, dressed salad with vegetables or a warm vegetable dish, which is not typically eaten cold. | |||
Javanese | salad | ||
In Javanese, "salad" refers to a mixture of uncooked vegetables that are usually eaten raw. | |||
Khmer | សាឡាត់ | ||
The word "សាឡាត់" in Khmer is derived from the French word "salade", meaning "cold dish of greens, vegetables, or fruit". | |||
Lao | ສະຫຼັດ | ||
This word is borrowed from English and does not exist in the original Lao language, where the native term is 'ຜັກກະເດາ'. | |||
Malay | salad | ||
In Malay, "salad" can also refer to cucumbers.} | |||
Thai | สลัด | ||
In Thai, "สลัด" can also refer to a type of light dessert similar to a fruit salad. | |||
Vietnamese | xà lách | ||
The word "xà lách" derives from the French "salade", meaning "salt", and ultimately from the Latin "sal", referring to the dressing used to preserve salad leaves. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | salad | ||
Azerbaijani | salat | ||
In Azerbaijani, "salat" can also refer to a cold appetizer or a large plate of mixed fruits. | |||
Kazakh | салат | ||
The Kazakh word "салат" can also refer to a particular type of herb, such as basil or cilantro, used in traditional Kazakh cuisine. | |||
Kyrgyz | салат | ||
"Салат" in Kyrgyz can also mean "green onion". | |||
Tajik | хӯриш | ||
The word "хӯриш" in Tajik can also refer to a dish of meat and vegetables cooked in a broth, similar to a stew. | |||
Turkmen | salat | ||
Uzbek | salat | ||
The word "salat" in Uzbek has a similar etymology to the word "salad" in English, both originating from the Latin word "salata" meaning "salted." | |||
Uyghur | سالات | ||
Hawaiian | sāleta | ||
The word 'sāleta' is the Hawaiian word for 'lettuce' and is also used to refer to any type of salad greens. | |||
Maori | huamata | ||
The Maori word 'huamata' is a compound of 'hua' (fruit) and 'mata' (eye), referring to the colorful appearance of salad ingredients. | |||
Samoan | salati | ||
"Salati" is Samoan for salad, originating from the French word "salade" and the Latin word "salata", both meaning salted vegetables. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | salad | ||
The word 'salad' in Tagalog (Filipino) can also refer to any dish that is composed of raw or cooked vegetables and fruits, or a combination of the two. |
Aymara | ensalada ukaxa | ||
Guarani | ensalada rehegua | ||
Esperanto | salato | ||
The Esperanto word "salato" derives from the Latin word "sal", meaning "salt". | |||
Latin | acetaria | ||
"Acetaria," the Late Latin word for salad, originally referred to a dish of raw or cooked vegetables dressed with vinegar. |
Greek | σαλάτα | ||
The word "σαλάτα" is also used in Greek to refer to a type of large, shallow bowl | |||
Hmong | nyias | ||
Nyias can also mean "to eat with rice" or "to eat something with something else." | |||
Kurdish | xas | ||
The word 'xas' is also used to refer to a type of Kurdish stew made with vinegar. | |||
Turkish | salata | ||
"Salata" can also refer to a type of sauce eaten with kebabs. | |||
Xhosa | isaladi | ||
In Xhosa, the word 'isaladi' originates from the Nguni term for 'vegetable garden'. | |||
Yiddish | סאַלאַט | ||
In Yiddish, the word "סאַלאַט" can also refer to "pickles". | |||
Zulu | isaladi | ||
Assamese | চালাড | ||
Aymara | ensalada ukaxa | ||
Bhojpuri | सलाद के बा | ||
Dhivehi | ސެލެޑް | ||
Dogri | सलाद दा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | salad | ||
Guarani | ensalada rehegua | ||
Ilocano | ensalada | ||
Krio | salad we dɛn kɔl salad | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | زەلاتە | ||
Maithili | सलाद | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯁꯥꯂꯥꯗ꯫ | ||
Mizo | salad a ni | ||
Oromo | salaada | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସାଲାଡ | | ||
Quechua | ensalada | ||
Sanskrit | सलादः | ||
Tatar | салат | ||
Tigrinya | ሰላጣ | ||
Tsonga | saladi ya saladi | ||